Var Gold Rush Sprint entry

MIDNIGHT SERENADE heads the list of entries for the R150,000 Var Gold Rush Sprint (Non-Black Type, for three-year-olds) over 1100m at Turffontein on Saturday 3 March.
The race forms the middle leg of the three-race Var Series for three-year-old sprinters sponsored by the Var Syndicate. The first race in the series, the Need For Speed Sprint over 1000m, was run at Kenilworth in January and won by Delago Deluxe. The third race is to be held in Durban later in the year.
The Var Gold Rush Sprint is the richest race at the meeting, which also features the Listed Storm Bird Stakes and Ruffian Stakes.
Midnight Serenade, who hails from the Dianne Stenger stable, is the highest-rated horse in the 19-horse entry. The Malhub gelding has won two of his eight career starts and placed in the others, including finishing a neck second to Delago Deluxe in the SA Nursery last year and runner-up to Deliver The Power in the Tommy Hotspur Handicap last time out. If he runs he will carry top weight of 60kg.
Three of Var’s progeny are on the list, including talented filly Variometer, the second top-rated runner. The Louis Goosen inmate also has good feature-race form and recently was beaten just a neck by Jackodore in the Swallow Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein.
Lightly raced Valere, a recent Maiden Plate winner for trainer Mike Azzie, and Paul Matchett-trained Marble Drum will also represent the stallion for whom the race is named. Valere made good improvement on his 1160m debut to beat Wyatt West by 2.75 lengths over 1200m on the inside track.
Champion trainer Mike de Kock has entered Second Tycoon, who beat Variometer in a Progress Plate over 1000m recently, while arguably the most interesting runner is Skitt Skizzle. The Sean Tarry-trained colt hacked up in his only start to date, beating Celtic King by 10 lengths over 1200m at the Vaal and might be something extraordinary. He has been given an initial rating of 84 and, if both run, he will get 8kg from Midnight Serenade.
Final acceptances fall due on Tuesday 28 February.
The entries in order of draw, horse, age, sex, trainer, weight and merit rating:

16 MIDNIGHT SERENADE (3G) Dianne Stenger 60.0 100
7 VARIOMETER (3F) Louis Goosen 59.0 98
3 SECOND TYCOON (3G) Mike de Kock 58.5 97
8 SIDESTEP (3G) Alec Laird 55.5 91
15 MINI BLACK (3G) Paul Matchett 54.0 88
17 AMERICANO (3G) Paul Matchett 53.0 86
19 LEGAL ACTION (3C) Chris Erasmus 52.5 85
14 #SKITT SKIZZLE (3C) Sean Tarry 52.0 84
18 DAZZLING MOON (3F) Grant Maroun 51.5 83
13 #VALERE (3G) Mike Azzie 51.0 82
2 LET'S ROCK BABA (3G) Clinton Binda 50.0 80
4 DAWN LIGHT (3G) Chris Erasmus 49.5 79
9 MARBLE DRUM (3C) Paul Matchett 49.5 79
12 NATIONAL ROAD (3G) Sean Tarry 49.5 79
11 TONY'S TIPPLE (3G) Louis Goosen 48.0 76
10 ABOVE THE MOON (3G) Grant Maroun 47.5 75
5 MARGHERITA LOTTI (3F) Paul Peter 47.5 75
6 MARVELLOUS CAPTAIN (3G) Louis Goosen 46.5 73
1 ADMIRALS CUP (3G) Leon Erasmus 45.0 70

You had to be impressed with the tarry horse the other day...

84 is an interesting rating for Skitt Skizzle. He was impressive, but beat a very weak field. He could of course be much better than an 84 and this race will be highly informative, if he runs.

SKITT SKIZZLE’S initial rating of 84 after his impressive debut at the Vaal last week might be lenient and he could well follow up in the Var Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m at Turffontein this Saturday.
Sean Tarry-trained Skitt Skizzle trounced Celtic King by a full 10 lengths over 1200m on the Vaal turf and with just 52kg on his back, many will expect him to handle this rise in class and skate home under jockey Robbie Fradd.
The race, a handicap restricted to three-year-olds, was first held last year and is a Non-Black Type event on a programme that also includes the Listed Storm Bird Stakes, the Listed Ruffian Stakes and the Non-Black Type Egoli Sprint. However, the Var Gold Rush Sprint, one of a series of three races sponsored by the Var Syndicate, carries the richest stake at the meeting - R150,000. The Need For Speed Sprint was run in Cape Town in January and another Var Syndicate-sponsored race will be run in Durban during the winter.
Topweight Midnight Serenade, who hails from the Dianne Stenger stable, is one of the most consistent individuals in racing. His last five runs have yielded three seconds and two third placings, including a neck second to Delago Deluxe in the SA Nursery last year and a 2.50-length second behind Deliver The Power in the recent Tommy Hostpur Handicap over 1000m.
To be ridden by in-form Gavin Lerena, Midnight Serenade will have his supporters although, on paper, he looks to have his work cut out with 60kg to carry.
Second Tycoon ran over the Turffontein 1000m on the same day as the Tommy Hostpur Handicap and, carrying more weight than Midnight Serenade, covered the distance in 0.31 sec faster time than the winner that day. That was the Mike de Kock-trained gelding’s second in win his last three starts - he had dead-heated with still unbeaten Unannounced over 1000m at Clairwood in June last year in his third-last outing. He will strip cherryripe for this engagement and will be ridden by Anthony Delpech.
Another runner who should make his presence felt is Legal Action, who finished two lengths ahead of Midnight Serenade in a Conditions Plate over 1160m at Turffontein in January and meets Stenger’s runner on 7.5kg better terms. The Chris Erasmus-trained colt went on to finish sixth behind Second Tycoon and looks unlikely to turn the tables, even on 6kg better terms.
Dazzling Moon is also holding form well, but is 0.5kg under sufferance in this field and will have to run a career best if she is to feature.
The final field in order of saddlecloth number, draw, horse, trainer, jockey, weight and merit rating:
1 9 MIDNIGHT SERENADE Dianne Stenger G Lerena 60.0 100
2 2 SECOND TYCOON Mike de Kock A Delpech 58.5 97
3 5 SIDESTEP Alec Laird *J Greyling 55.5 91
4 8 MINI BLACK Paul Matchett R Simons 54.0 88
5 10 AMERICANO Paul Matchett J P v'd Merwe 53.0 86
6 12 LEGAL ACTION Chris Erasmus M V'Rensburg 52.5 85
7 7 SKITT SKIZZLE Sean Tarry R Fradd 52.0 84
8 11 DAZZLING MOON Grant Maroun *N Juglall 52.0 83
9 1 LET'S ROCK BABA Clinton Binda D David 52.0 80
10 3 DAWN LIGHT Chris Erasmus S Khumalo 52.0 79
11 6 ABOVE THE MOON Grant Maroun T Appie 52.0 75
12 4 MARVELLOUS CAPTAIN Louis Goosen C Maujean 52.0 73
Coupled for Pick 6 ONLY: (4, 5); (6, 10); (8, 11).

I'm pretty sure that the Non-Black Type Egoli Sprint is actually the Non-Black Type Egoli Mile.< You'll be amazed to know that it's over 1600m...

skit skizzles initial rating of 84 might be leniant ??????????????whats the maximun rating he can have after 1 run?

some sprinters can sprint further than others

it probably achieved higher but the max for a maiden winning 3yo is a net 78..the WFA is 6 pounds over 1200 in february so thats where the 84 comes from..84-6 = 78..

JustinV Wrote:

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> it probably achieved higher but the max for a
> maiden winning 3yo is a net 78..the WFA is 6
> pounds over 1200 in february so thats where the 84
> comes from..84-6 = 78..


do you think the person who wrote the article knew that their is a cap to its rating?who wrote the article?did the person who wrote the article not think to phone the handicaper and ask him abt the low rating then after finding out the cap ask him what skit actually ran to?bullshit baffles brains

Not sure but phum releases are usually Jackm

Second Tycoon was very heavy in his defeat at Vaal. In his next run, as I said here on ABC, he would be hard to beat, if trimmed up. He won well. Come this race, he will be cherry ripe.

Second Tycoon will win, imho. Look for the second horse.... It might not be Skitt Skizzle...

Variometer runs on Tues night (13th), in the Bauhinia (listed), 1000m, as does Jolly Poppins.